Still River Crafter - Summer 2012 by Brookfield Craft

Still River Crafter: News from the Brookfield Craft Center Volume 1, Edition 3

Summer, 2012

Bart Simpson, Stained Glass and a Three-Day Workshop with Master Artist Joseph Cavalieri By BCC Ed. Dir. Heather Lawless

Stained glass panel entitled Il Momento della Morte is from Joseph Cavalieri’s Lost Episode series using characters from The Simpsons animated television series. (Joseph Cavalieri, CAVAglass.com)

Contents Bart Simpson...and Cavalieri......1 Online Events Calendar......1 Spotlight: Sampler Classes......2 Farewell to Our Dear Friends......2 Call for Artists: BCC Summer Series......3 News from the Fiber Studio......4 Woodturner Binh Pho......4 Good News from the Good Forge......5 Craft Tech......5 Sharpies – The Magical Jewelry Tool......6 Cool Tools at the School......6 Creating Successful Pieces in Clay......7 Local Ground (Summer Series)......7 Faculty Spotlight: Suzanne Pisano ......8 Faculty Spotlight: Raychel Wengenroth......8 Brookfield Craft Center Gets N.E.R.D.y......9 Wish List......11 Contact Us......12

Stained glass isn’t just for Sunday mornings anymore. This is evident when peering into the bold works of artist Joseph Cavalieri, whose medieval cathedral influences marry pop culture to produce stained glass panels of a new generation. Joseph’s intentions are to coax stained glass out of the church and into peoples’ homes, galleries and museums. He will do just that by way of the classroom when he teaches a three-day workshop this August at Brookfield Craft Center on Contemporary Painting on Stained Glass. Joseph began his career as an art director for GQ and People Magazine. He incorporates graphic design skills and tricks from the magazine world into his current stained glass work, and shares these Design Challenge! Inspiration from Our Instructors techniques and secrets in his classes. Stained glass always enticed him, since attending church as a child through visiting European cathedrals as an adult. It was when he took classes at UrbanGlass in Continued on page 10

BCC’s New Online Events Calendar Makes Registering Easy! Thanks to the volunteers at New England GiveCamp (see “BCC Gets N.E.R.D.y” this issue), the Craft Center now has a fully functioning integrated events calendar to help visitors to our site find classes, workshops, open studio sessions and other activities, with ease. Check out the new feature at: http://www.brookfieldcraft.org/cal/ The new design has color coding by media for an at-a-glance view, with filtering, so you can either see all the programs and events running at BCC or narrow it down to just those media that interest you. Use the Filter: Medium drop down and click on a single medium or use the Ctrl+<click> option to select multiple media at once. Visitors can view the calendar by month, week, or day, or switch to Agenda view for a bullet-point list of upcoming activities. If a friend is coming to town and you want to take a class together, you can look ahead to see what’s already Continued on page 10

Spotlight: Upcoming Classes Brookfield Craft Center's Sampler Workshops are designed with the beginner in mind. These short, low-cost workshops eliminate the intimidation of trying a new art medium and using a new studio. You might just find your new artistic calling, but you will never know unless you give it a try. SAMPLER WORKSHOP: Quick + Easy Earrings Jul 7, 2012 (9am - 1pm) You’ll be surprised at how many earrings you can make in a few hours. Using mostly copper and brass you will learn some basic metalsmithing skills and produce fabulous earrings. Students will learn to create their own earwires and other wire components. A small amount of sterling will also be included in the materials fee but students should bring their own materials if they wish to work in silver. A small amount of soldering can be used for several styles for those students already familiar with soldering. This is a great introduction to a variety of metal techniques and no experience is necessary. SAMPLER WORKSHOP: Fused Glass Jul 7 & 8, 2012 (Sat 2-5pm, Sun 2-3pm) In this fast paced introduction to fused glass, students will learn fusing techniques by creating components for jewelry and small items such as bookmarks, wine stoppers, ornaments, and letter openers. These are the same techniques used to make larger items like bowls etc. By starting small you can explore the medium with minimal kiln time, cost for tuition and materials. Topics will include cutting, grinding, preparing pieces for the kiln and firing. Students wishing to work at a more comfortable pace may prefer Fused Glass 101. SAMPLER WORKSHOP: Glass Beads on the Torch Aug 11, 2012 (10am - 2pm) Are you fascinated with handmade glass beads? Have you ever wondered just how they are made? This 4-hour Sampler Workshop will introduce you to the exciting world of Lampworking. Students will use Effetre (soft glass) rods, stringer, and frit to create eight different glass bead designs. You will learn how to use gravity and a handful of tools to shape and design the glass. After four hours, you can expect to have made a handful of beads that you can use to make a one-of-a-kind piece of wearable art.

What’s on the Horizon As administrative change moves through Brookfield Craft Center, we are reminded of how far we have come in a short period of time. Not all small arts organizations have weathered the storm of what turned out to be a worldwide economic crisis. BCC has been financially worn weary but, through the support of an unyielding community of artists and patrons, we were able to reopen with rejuvenation. We’ve gotten back to basics with classes in blacksmithing and bladesmithing, clay, fiber, glass, jewelry and woodturning. Volunteers have become the school’s and gallery’s lifeblood. Students, volunteers, members, donors, gallery customers, instructors, board members and staff rally to create a community atmosphere supportive not only of seasoned professionals, but of enthusiastic artists beginning to explore fine craft for the first time. Working with a shoestring budget, we have brought life to the studios, revitalized the annual Holiday Sale, increased class enrollments, created new educational programming and made experiences at BCC worth sharing with others. As time moves on, the cast of characters inevitably changes. We say goodbye to Executive Director Richard Herrmann and Marketing Director Betsy Halliday, and welcome in an Interim Executive Director to be appointed this July. BCC has progressed from the brink of extinction to survival in a harsh economic environment, and we are now making plans for a thriving future. With the Support Center for Non-Profit Management (a nonprofit itself) at our side, we are assessing our needs for increased prosperity. For over 25 years, Support Center’s mission has been “to improve our society by increasing the effectiveness of nonprofit leaders and their organizations.” The first stage working with Support Center has been to orient their consultants on how BCC operates at all levels. Support Center has been speaking with board members, staff, volunteers, members and instructors to gain a comprehensive understanding of our organization. Support Center is also providing us with a pool of candidates skilled in non-profit leadership transition for our board to choose an Interim Executive Director. This interim leader will help enact an action plan for growth over the next six to nine months while Support Center assists a search committee in finding a permanent Executive Director. When the Continued on page 10

Call for Artists: BCC Gallery’s Summer “Local Treasures” Series June 30th marks the inaugural event of our new Summer Series at the Gallery, “Local Treasures,” with the opening reception of Local Ground: Local Pottery from Around Here (6-9 pm at the BCC Gallery). July 21st opens Local Adornment: Local Jewelry, Baubles, Bangles & Beads, for which we are seeking area jewelers interested in showing their work. August 18 begins The Village Smithy: Work by our Local Blacksmiths, and September 22 marks the opening of The Forest and the Trees: Local Woodturning and Fiber Arts. To have your work considered for inclusion in any

of these shows, please contact Chris Doherty at triSterk@aol.com. Jewelers may also contact Rachel Morris at rmorris@brookfieldcraft.org. Submissions for the July 21st Local Adornment show must be received no later than end of business day, Friday, July 13th. Jewelers can bring work by during studio time on Wednesdays between 7pm and 10pm, or on that Friday the 13th from 10 am to 5 pm. We recommend you provide 3-6 exemplary pieces for consideration. Included works must all be available for sale in the gallery during the events. Our usual commission terms apply, in support of our educational programs.

BCC Gallery & Gift Shop Did you know? The Craft Center's Mill Building Gift Shop & Exhibition Gallery is open and filled with gorgeous art! Need a last minute housewarming present or birthday gift? Looking for some new art to spice up your home this summer? Swing by and visit:

Private and Semi-Private Instruction Many of BCC’s instructors are available for oneon-one tutoring or for semi-private lessons (2 students). If you can't make a regularly scheduled class or want a little extra guidance on a specific skill set that you didn’t quite get down, call to make an appointment. These sessions generally require a minimum of 3 hours and are $50/hour for private or $35/hour for semi-private lessons. Materials are not included.

Monday – Saturday 11-5 & Sunday 12-4 The gallery provides a beautiful venue for displaying affordable fine craft—functional and decorative objects in glass, wood, metal, fiber, clay and more. All works are carefully juried and are representative of many of the skills and techniques students can learn in our classes and workshops. All sales directly benefit our education programs and provide support for independent American artists.

Why Become a Member? BCC is a non-profit craft school which remains open through the generosity of its members and donors. As a member, you can: * Show your support for the arts * Be invited to show openings at the gallery * Take members-only specialty classes in your choice of media * Receive special sale prices at the gallery during sales * Write off your tax deductible membership * Double your donation value with our Windgate matching grant Join us online at: http://www.brookfieldcraft.org/

News from the Lynn Tendler Bignell Fiber Studio By Christine Aulicino, Studio Coordinator and Weaving Instructor The LTB Fiber Studio is back in full swing this spring. Classes in weaving using portable rigid heddle looms started a year ago, followed by the addition of classes using the studio’s state of the art floor looms. We celebrated our busy year with a reunion of past and present weaving students on June 5th. Past weavers who had been working on their own brought samples of their work for show and tell, and current students demonstrated their latest projects. All this with a wonderful potluck reception: great food, good drink, lively conversation. The weaving resources of the LTB Studio are enviable. Along with a small library of resource books and shelves of diverse, colorful fibers, there are 10 floor looms. The looms range from a portable, direct tie-up Norwood to a 54-inch LeClerc. Most of the looms used by students are Schacht Wolf looms, either 4- or 8-harness. The studio also boasts a 44-inch Glimakra countermarch loom. With this wide range of looms, weavers can find resources that match their interests. The Floor Loom weaving classes run for 6 week sessions and have been sold out since last winter. We’re always welcoming of donated looms so that we can expand our offerings. Donations this year have added to our resources with 3 floor looms, one 4-harness table

loom and a tapestry loom. Weaving classes are also offered using rigid heddle looms. These 4-week classes, aptly titled “Weaving on the Go,” offer beginning and experienced weavers the chance to explore unique fiber combinations and weave structures on an affordable and very portable loom that acts just like a more complex machine. With Open Studio hours, floor loom and rigid heddle loom weavers mix and mingle, getting ideas, inspiration and encouragement from each other. The LBT Fiber Studio overlooks the rapids of the Still River (not very still here in Brookfield!). Filled with afternoon light and glowing during evening hours, the Studio makes an ideal setting for creativity in all fiber arts. There are spinning wheels and spindles just waiting for a spinner’s touch, counters and heating elements alongside tables for the dyer’s arts, and outdoor gathering spaces for discussions on everything from the latest knitting techniques to the long history of woven ornaments to how to adapt a garment pattern. The potential in the Fiber Studio is almost limitless, and it awaits new ideas for creative expression.

Spend the Day with Renowned Woodturner Binh Pho Sunday September 9, 2012 (9am-5pm, $75, includes lunch) Binh Pho will captivate you with his stories of inspiration and intricate techniques of thin wall turning and pierced surfaces. Escaping from communist Vietnam in the 1970s shaped Binh Pho’s appreciation of freedom, life and expression. Experience the craft of woodturning through his eyes: From a heavy lot of timber to a light, thin vessel, negative spaces interlock with solid surface. The color, grain and natural look of the wood all reflect the principle of Yin and Yang. My work comes from memories, culture, Zen mind and my own thoughts. Negative spaces inspire me, as they represent the unseen weight of the unknown, which I use to take the viewers into my work. The make-up artist does not only know the script of a play, but also feels the characters that the actor and actresses are portraying. The make-up artist's goal is to express that feeling to the audience. What do I do? I put a soul into every piece I create. I don't make objects; I create characters. If the viewers can pick up on that soul, I've accomplished it. Creating figurative and abstract imagery on delicately pierced wood vessels opens the doors for me to share my life and interests. There was a period of time that I looked through the window and asked myself the question, "What is it like on the other side of that window?" I then just let my imagination go. -Binh Pho

Good News from the Good Forge By Chris Doherty, Good Forge Studio Manager If you are a microbiologist you go to a conference, if you’re a Shriner you go to a convention and if you’re a blacksmith you go to a Hammer-in. The name stuck at the dawn of the modern artistblacksmith renaissance in the early seventies when every gathering was an “–in” (be, love, sit) and every scandal was a “–gate” (water, Korea, tail). Today there are dozens of hammer-ins around the country every year, ranging from small, local, single-day meetings to large, multi-day festivities that draw smiths from all over the country and abroad. At any hammer-in you can expect to see demonstrations of blacksmithing techniques or equipment, tailgate sales of every conceivable blacksmithing tool and the occasional historical disquisition on some aspect of the craft. Blacksmiths being blacksmiths, meals are seldom neglected and technical conversation and networking are always the order of the day. Here at BCC we held our first hammer-in this spring and, despite weather that could be charitably described as “brisk,” a good time was had by all at demonstrations of tomahawk and armor making and during an energetic demo that saw three smiths swinging sledge hammers at the same bar in a carefully choreographed and notably injury-free demonstration of the art as it used to be practiced when a power hammer was called “an apprentice.” Which is not to mention the knifemaking demo or the exciting raffle held at the event. This November we’re going to be doing it again (we’re aiming for Indian summer). Though the specifics are still in the works, you can depend on useful and educational demos, a lunch that will live up to its name, tailgate sales, iron-in-the-hat and a good time for all who attend. If you are already a smith this will be a great opportunity to pick up some tips, make some connections and just talk blacksmithing. If you’ve never swung a hammer it will be a great chance to see what it’s all about. Watch this space and our website for further details.

Craft Tech Is working at your workbench your escape from technology? Consider integrating computer time into studio time and you may find a happy balance that could potentially revolutionize your art and business. BCC’s new Professional Development Series of workshops often touch on building technology skills. This spring, woodturner and professional photographer Joe Larese taught a workshop on taking digital photos of artists’ work. Joe showed students how to use PVC pipes and inexpensive compact fluorescent light bulbs to make any piece of dimensional craft look outstanding in digital images. Good photographs are paramount when selling online, building a portfolio or applying to shows and galleries, and students were excited by the skills they gained. BCC Education Director Heather Lawless taught a class on web presence where students learned the basics of registering a domain name, setting up an online portfolio and understanding search engine optimization. Heather also taught a short seminar on using social media to network with artists and organizations, and promote your art. These three workshops were so well received by students that follow-up courses are in the works for the fall. If you have ideas for workshops on technology or professional development, please send them Heather’s way at hlawless@brookfieldcraft.org. More tech-oriented professional development workshops running this summer: Dynamic PowerPoint for Artists Sat. July 21, 1-5 pm Heather Lawless will show beginners how to create visually appealing and effective slideshows for artist talks and presentations. Intro to SketchUp 3D Design Sat. August 4, 10 am-5 pm David Heim will teach beginners how to draft projects in three dimensions using SketchUp, a popular free design software tool. Register at: http://store.brookfieldcraftcenter.org/category-s/257.htm

Sharpies – The Magical Jewelry Tool

Cool Tools at the School: Swanstrom Disc Cutter

Oh, Sharpies, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways! Last issue’s tip from Joanne Conant that has us using a black sharpie marker mark to gauge when our metal is annealed got some of our students and staff talking. * John Cogswell blackens an entire piece of silver with a sharpie and then scratches the outline of the shape he plans on cutting with a scribe. This cuts down on the reflection of the metal as the blade cuts through it, making the lines easier to see and follow. * A dark Sharpie mark makes a clear point for drilling holes or positioning critical pieces when soldering. * A black Sharpie can be used as a resist on copper or brass when etching (or to fill in gaps another resist may have left. * Get a super clean cutting line on your metal by tracing along the edge of a cardboard template. * Sharpies these days come in all kinds of colors and thicknesses – use them in your sketchbook to add color to rough designs. * Sharpies can be used to add color to copper, and if you’re quick, you can even blend your colors before they dry – just treat the results with Renaissance wax or play with the watercolor-like effects you can get if you use an alcohol based solution. Krylon Acrylic or Matte Finish gives a good final coating. ...And, of course, you can take notes during your classes at Brookfield Craft Center! Got other great ideas for your Sharpie Markers? Let us know!

Thanks to our recent matching grant for equipment, we’ve picked up a few new tools for the Jewelry Studio with more on their way. The studio now has its own tumbler with stainless steel shot for hardening and polishing your work, and we also purchased a Swanstrom Disc Cutter which cuts circles out of up to 18 gauge metal with ease in sizes from 1/8" to 1-1/4" (in 1/8” increments). We picked this cutter because it not only works quickly and well with a hammer blow, but with the press extension we got, it can be used in our Bonny Doon press, too.

Jewelry Open Studio Update Jewelry open studio (for those with Silversmithing 101 or equivalent) is held Wednesdays (7pm10pm), Tuesdays (10am-1pm), and all-day "Second Fridays" (2nd Friday of the month from 10am to 7pm). Buy a 4 session pass good for 6 weeks at $12/hr, or an 8 session pass good for 12 weeks at $10/hr on our website, via phone, or in person. Session blocks are 3 hours each (you can use multiples on Second Fridays, but no splitting a 3 hour block up). You must be a BCC member or have free class studio sessions to participate. Note that we are now allowing drop-ins during these sessions on a first come, first served basis at a rate of $15/hr (minimum 3 hour block).

If you use this cutter, make sure to treat it with the love and care it deserves: 1. No thicker than 18 gauge metal (soft metals only – no steel) 2. Always anneal first (if you’ve rolled a pattern, don’t forget to anneal again afterwards) 3. Leave the cutter on the rubber mat it comes with, to cushion the blows and protect the frame 4. Firmly tighten down the handle so the spring loaded plate holds the metal in place and stays in alignment 5. Align the appropriate sized punch carefully in its slot 6. Use the orange lead weighted mallets, NOT a metal hammer 7. Make sure the handle is twisted away from the spot you’ll be hitting 8. Use firm, solid hits (on 28 gauge or so, you can often go through in one shot) …and enjoy the ease with which you get perfectly punched circles of metal!

Creating Successful Pieces in Clay By Clare Lewis, BCC Ceramics Faculty If worried about your work (wheel thrown or hand built) cracking or warping during drying, here are some tips to follow: • Keep projects around ¼ inch thick and no thicker than ½ inch. Very thin work can easily break. • Keep the clay thickness even throughout the piece: uneven thickness in projects may promote cracking. • Dry pieces slowly and out of any drafts to minimize warping. • Remember that clay shrinks as it dries. When using hump molds, remove the piece from the mold at the leatherhard stage, before it dries completely or it could crack. • Hollow forms always need an air hole or they may crack as they dry. • Tiles are best dried slowly and weighted down to keep them flat. Drying between two pieces of sheetrock, so moisture is wicked from top and bottom, is optimum. • If in doubt, dry slowly.

Ceramics Open Studio Wednesday afternoons, 1- 4 pm Thursday evenings, 6 - 9 pm Students currently enrolled in weekly ceramics classes are eligible to take part in open studio up to twice per week. The first session attended per week is free with enrollment, and the optional drop-in second session is $15 at the door. During open studio sessions, the studio is open for artists to work at the wheel, slab roller and table workspace. Enjoy this time to work on class projects and practice techniques.

Local Ground; Pottery and Ceramic Work from Around Here Opening Saturday, June 30th, 2012 running through July 15th at the BCC Mill Building Gallery The first show “Local Ground: Pottery and Ceramic Work from Around Here” includes recent work from local potters Sarah Bernhardt, Joy Brown, Clare Lewis, Elizabeth MacDonald, Alison Palmer, Christine Owen and Lisa Scroggins, and is sponsored by DiGrazia Vineyards and RW's Barbecue, both of Brookfield. The show’s opening reception was held on Saturday, June 30th, to rousing response. Be sure not to miss the next three openeings to see exceptional craft and get a taste of Connecticut. The first show will run through Sunday, July 15th. Keep an eye out for the rest of our summer series: Local Adornment; Jewelry, Baubles, Bangles and Beads Opening Saturday, July 21st, 2012 running through August 4th Local jewelers, bead makers and designers exhibit selected works. The Village Smithy; Work by our local Blacksmiths Opening Saturday, August 18th, 2012 running through September 1st Blacksmiths and Bladesmiths from the area exhibit their work in iron and steel. The Forest and the Trees; Local Woodturning and Fiber Arts Opening Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 through October 6th Displaying the work of local Turners, Weavers, Knitters and Basket Makers.

Faculty Spotlight: Suzanne Pisano (Glass & Jewelry)

Faculty Spotlight: Raychel Wengenroth (Jewelry)

Raised in southern New York State, Suzanne Pisano has always been interested in the arts. She holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in computer science from Iona College where she also studied art and is now based out of her Newtown, CT, studio, where she works in numerous media including glass, metal, and photography. Suzanneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s jewelry work includes fabricated silver, fused and lampworked glass, and enamels. She takes inspiration from her interests in nature photography, the Florida Keys, and music, and incorporates those elements into her designs. Suzanne is an accomplished musician who performs with several area bands. Suzanne has studied silversmithing, lapidary, and glass manipulation under some highly esteemed jewelers and glass artists including Fredricka Kulicke, Joanne Conant, Joy Raskin, Linda Banks, Annemarie Ciuffini, Stephanie Maddalena, and Kurt Patzlaff. She has been teaching fused glass and jewelry making at Brookfield Craft Center since 2008. Upcoming classes include an early July Quick & Easy Earrings sampler class and early Augustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Quick & Easy Metal Rings sampler in the jewelry studio, and a Fused Glass 101 course in the glass studio. Check out our website for more details.

Raychel began silversmithing at the age of 15 at Peters Valley, a school much like Brookfield Craft Center, in New Jersey. She soon went on to apprentice under professional jewelers in New York, and then attended Queens College and SUNY New Paltz, where she earned a BFA in Gold & Silversmithing. Upon graduating, she began a wholesale jewelry and giftware business, which led to her first forays into teaching as she instructed employees in her new company. Some of the places Raychel has taught include The Woodstock Guild, Mill Street Loft, Dutchess and Westchester Community Colleges (NY), Fletcher Farm (VT), Peters Valley (NJ), and Silvermine School of Art, Farmington Valley Arts Center, Wesleyan Potters in Connecticut and our own Brookfield Craft Center. Her award winning work is shown nationally in juried and invitational shows, and has been auctioned at Christie's in New York City. She is an Empire State Crafts Alliance and New York Foundation for the Arts grant recipient. Raychel specializes in sculptural flatware, hollowware, and jewelry, primarily in silver and sterling. She has been teaching workshops at BCC since 1998, on topics ranging from chain making to forging and forming. In late June and midAugust, Raychel brings us two one-day hands-on classes: Torch-less chains and soldered loop in loop chains, respectively. In July she teaches a one day intro to cold forging, with a longer, more advanced course tentatively scheduled for fall. See our website for more details.

Brookfield Craft Center Gets N.E.R.D.y at Microsoft GiveCamp In early May of this year, Heather Lawless, our Education Coordinator, represented BCC at New England GiveCamp 2012, held at Microsoft’s Cambridge headquarters, affectionately known as N.E.R.D. (New England Research and Development). Microsoft sponsors the annual event at its wellappointed offices at the head of the Charles River in an effort to give back to the community. Each year, several dozen New England based nonprofits receive the benefit of technical expertise provided by over a hundred professional programmers, developers, and designers who commit to a single weekend’s efforts to turn the charitable organizations around, technologically. BCC submitted a proposal for this year’s camp after hearing about the amazing process from Rachel Morris, a BCC faculty member and Jewelry Studio Manager who has participated as a Project Manager for GiveCamp 2011. In early April, the Craft Center was informed its project had been chosen, and Heather, with guidance from Richard Herrmann, BCC’s Executive Director, began to prepare. The event, running from Friday night at 5 pm to Sunday at 5 pm, is an intense 48 hours of project analysis, development, programming, designing, testing, adjustments and, finally, proud accomplishment. Each nonprofit is assigned a team of volunteers suited to the needs and size of their projects, along with a project lead or PM. In some cases, it’s a single designer working on a new logo, in others, it might be a team of 4-8 tackling a full website redesign. Many of the participants bring blowup mattresses and sleeping bags and sleep in the halls surrounding the work area. Area businesses sponsor the event, providing

meals and snacks and a swag bag of gear. The atmosphere quickly becomes one of high geekery, like a scene out of the movie “Real Genius” the night before exams, with acronyms such as “DNS,” and “CMS” and “ASP” flying, and team leads rushing to grab specialists from other groups for quick consultations here and there throughout the night. The pace is manic; the results, amazing. BCC’s project request asked to have a calendar tool developed to make our students’ experience when visiting the website, smoother. What we got from our team, which consisted of two developers, a designer, and a project manager, was beyond all expectations! Heather and her team worked long and hard to create a product that integrates with both our custom registration tracking database and the website’s online shop. They researched existing tools that could be modified to work with our WordPress based website and developed custom code into which calendar files are fed from our Microsoft Access database. (Our own Rachel Morris created a script that allows BCC staff to generate the calendar files at the push of a button.) The results, courtesy of Microsoft’s New England GiveCamp and the volunteers there, can be seen at: http://www.brookfieldcraft.org/cal/ For details on how to use some of the features of the new calendar look for this issue’s article entitled “BCC’s New Online Events Calendar.” To learn more about a GiveCamp event near you, or to volunteer to help out, check out: http://givecamp.org/ or http://newenglandgivecamp.org

Bart Simpson... from page 1 Brooklyn, New York that he became truly hooked. Now as a full-time glass artist and educator, Joseph operates out of his Manhattan studio in the East Village and teaches, exhibits and attends residencies all over the world. Notably, Joseph has taught at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina, held a residency at North Lands Creative Glass in Scotland and created a permanent installation for MTA New York City Arts at the Metro North Philipse Manor Station on the Hudson Line. Most recently, Joseph spent two months at the Sacatar Foundation in Bahia, Brazil giving locals and fellow residents a hands-on experience in the wonders of stained glass. Beyond incredible skill, Joseph’s sense of humor attracts attention to his art. His clever style pays homage to a historical, devotional vernacular with fresh imagery that causes you to look twice. In 2010, he collaborated with underground comic book legend Robert Crumb to produce a series of stained glass panels. Many of these pieces were created during Joseph’s residency at New York’s Museum of Arts and Design, which gained him an online exclusive article on American Craft Council’s website. His 2009-10 “Missing Episode” series of panels features characters from The Simpsons in macabre scenes. One of these panels now belongs to a writer for the television show, and hangs in The Simpson’s offices in Los Angeles. Joseph’s work even made an on-air cameo in “Simpson’s 20th Anniversary Special.” Joseph will bring his wit and artistic eye to BCC’s Glass Studio for a long weekend workshop for all skill levels August 3-5, 2012. The course will cover the basics of cutting, copper foiling and soldering stained glass, as well as techniques of hand painting, air brushing, collage and silk screening onto glass. Fair warning to students: “No butterfly sun catchers will materialize in this workshop,” jokes Joseph. “Instead, I will expose everyone to works of contemporary stained glass artists and encourage students to push the boundaries of their own design concepts, and have lots of fun at the same time.” We look forward to having Joseph and his Masters Series workshop on campus, and cannot wait to see the resulting student projects. Find more information on Joseph Cavalieri and his work at www.cavaglass.com, and his BCC workshop at www.brookfieldcraft.org.

Horizon from page 2 permanent Executive Director is in place, the BCC community will have a strategy for success in hand to implement fully. Survival of an arts organization in this recession is a battle, and BCC’s triumph is a true testament to the thousands of people who believe in our mission to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship, and to enable creativity and personal growth through craft education. We have come a long way, and we don’t intend to slow down now. Farewell to Our Friends Thank you to Richard Herrmann and Betsy Halliday for three years of dedication to BCC! Richard came on as Interim Executive Director in 2009, and was later named Executive Director. His wife Betsy’s role began as a part time consultant, and quickly shifted to Marketing Director. More than just a job, these two people adopted the Craft Center as a way of life. We thank Richard and Betsy especially for their work in 2010 during BCC’s temporary closure. They worked off the clock, yet around the clock, to bring BCC back to its feet. Calendar from page 1 confirmed on the schedule. (Don’t forget to check back often – we’re adding classes every week!) Hold your mouse over an event on the grid and you get a quick view popup description. Click on it and you’ll be brought to a detail page which lets you know more about the course, materials, instructor, pricing, and so on. From here, you can register for classes. Want to stay in touch even when you can’t visit the site? The calendar allows users to subscribe either via Google Calendar or Outlook to keep up to date on the happenings at BCC.

BCC, Social Media, & You! Did you know BCC has a Facebook page? Check us out and Like us at: https://www.facebook.com/BrookfieldCraft There’s also a blog with periodic postings about goings on in the area art scene in general, and BCC in particular, available at: http://www.brookfieldcraft.org/blog/

BCC Facilities Wish List As a nonprofit organization, we're on a tight budget when it comes to new equipment for our facilities. We dream of expanding the resources available to our students. Perhaps you can help. We accept used equipment in good working order, or donations earmarked for specific studios or gear. If you’d like to donate or sponsor the purchase of a specific item, please select from the list below. If you’d like to help but aren’t sure how, consider a cash donation earmarked for the appropriate studio: Blacksmithing & Bladesmithing · Blacksmithing Tongs · Swage Block · 2x72 Abrasive Belts · Bader Grinder and accessories Ceramics · Talisman Rotary Sieve · Good paint brushes for underglazes and glazes · Exacto blades and knife handles · Safety glasses/goggles · Storage Shelving Units Glass · Didymium Safety Glasses · 10” Adjustable Tile Saw · Repairs to Wet Grinder · Assembly costs, electrical work and new control box for a 96” glass kiln (previously donated) Jewelry · Die form urethanes for Bonny Doon · Bracelet forms for Bonny Doon · Necklace mandrel · Y splitter and Work Surface for Smith Little Torch workstation · Bezel forming punch sets (round, oval, square, pear, trillium) · Set of Riveting Hammers (Various sm to med/lg heads) and Set of Texturing Hammers · Flush cutters (2-4 pairs) · 90 & 45 degree Hart Burr Sets, Setting Burr Set Fiber · Kit to convert 36" 4-shaft loom to 8-shaft loom · 8” Dressmaker’s Shears · Serger Sewing Machine · 36" stainless steel reeds in 10-dent and 12-dent size Woodturning · Wood Turners Smocks · Oneway Talon Chucks Facilities · Dehumidifiers · Walkway Lighting

Matching Grant Helps Support Our Education Programs Every gift made to Brookfield Craft Center is effectively doubled due to our generous matching grant from the Windgate Foundation. Contributions are immediately put to use to maintain and enhance the viability of the Craft Center. Because tuition and state funding do not cover the cost of our classes and programs, the Craft Center relies on donations to pursue our mission to teach, preserve and advance the skills of fine craftsmanship. The financial support of our donors, students and friends allows us to maintain our fully-equipped studios, offer outstanding creative experiences to our students, and provide the tools and instruction necessary to provide quality craft education. Your continued support is vital to a sound and stable future of creativity and enrichment for our students, our faculty and our community. We hope we can count on your contribution of any amount. To donate, please go to our website at: http://store.brookfieldcraftcenter.org/donate.asp Or mail checks to: Brookfield Craft Center PO Box 122 286 Whisconier Road Brookfield, CT 06804

Special Giving Opportunities Brookfield Craft Center is grateful to those donors who are able to make special gifts when we have needs beyond the operating budget, such as studio renovation or construction. In appreciation, we offer these benefactors the opportunity to link their names with special projects. If you would like to support a particular program area at the Craft Center that has special meaning for you or a loved one, there are opportunities to name some of the existing studios, other buildings and areas such as the terrace and gardens. Please contact us at 203-775-4526 or info@brookfieldcraft.org. We look forward to your ideas.

Contact Us Heather Lawless Education Director hlawless@brookfieldcraft.org Deb Cooper Registrar dcooper@brookfieldcraft.org Jillian Doherty Retail Manager jdoherty@brookfieldcraft.org Barb Drillick Volunteer Coordinator bdrillick@brookfieldcraft.org Rachel Morris Jewelry Studio Advocate/Faculty rmorris@brookfieldcraft.org

To reach other faculty and staff, please contact us at: General Information info@brookfieldcraft.org The mission of Brookfield Craft Center is to teach and preserve the skills of fine craftsmanship and enable creativity and personal growth through craft education. Want to write for our new quarterly newsletter? Email Rachel Morris: rmorris@brookfieldcraft.org

Brookfield Craft Center 286 Whisconier Road (Route 25 @ 202) PO Box 122 Brookfield, CT 06804 203-775-4526

http://brookfieldcraft.org

Blacksmithing at the Good Forge Good Forge Open Studio Blacksmithing Sampler Workshop Bladesmithing at the Good Forge Bladesmithing 101

Bladesmithing for All Levels Bladesmithing 102 Ceramics Studio Ceramics Open Studio Loading and Firing an Electric Kiln

Fiber Arts Studio Fiber Open Studio

Glass Studio Sampler Workshop: Fused Glass Painting on Stained Glass Glass Beads on the Torch Glass Beadmaking 102 Fused Glass 101: Intro to Fused Glass Glass Beadmaking 101

Work independently in BCC's Good Forge any Friday night 6-9 pm for a drop-in fee of $15 per session. Get an introduction to the Good Forge at Brookfield Craft Center.

Ongoing: Fridays 6p – 9p 10/7/2012

Students will explore the fundamentals of bladesmithing

Three Opportunities: Weekend of 7/14 - 7/15/2012 Weekend of 9/8 - 9/9/2012 Weekend of 10/13 - 10/14/2012 Weekend of 7/28 - 7/29/2012

This 2-day course is designed to accommodate both beginners with no previous forging experience and skilled metalsmiths who wish to study under Joe Szilaski, a nationallyrecognized, award-winning knifemaker. Students can expect to forge and finish one knife.

Students currently enrolled in weekly ceramics classes are eligible to take part in open studio up to twice per week. Have you just set up a home pottery studio, or are you thinking about it? This workshop will give you all the information and resources you need so you can safely fire your own pottery. This short Sampler Workshop is a great introduction to a working on the wheel, and no experience is necessary.

Weekend of 10/27 - 10/28/2012

Ongoing: Wednesdays 1p- 4p Thursdays 6p – 9p 8/11/12 10a-1p 9/16/12 12p-4p

Current weaving students are welcome to join the Open Studio Program in the LTB Fiber Studio for $5 per hour of studio use. During open studio hours, BCC floor loom and rigid heddle students are able to weave and work independently on projects.

Ongoing: Thursdays 6p – 9p

In this fast paced introduction to fused glass, students will learn fusing techniques by creating components for jewelry and small items such as bookmarks, wine stoppers, ornaments, and letter openers. Master glass artist Joseph Cavalieri joins BCC for this 3-day workshop where students will experience a contemporary twist on the ancient art of stained glass. This 4-hour Sampler Workshop will introduce you to the exciting world of Lampworking. Students will use Effetre (soft glass) rods, stringer, and frit to create eight different glass bead designs. This class is a continuation of Glass Beadmaking 101, and is open to students who have completed the 101 class, or have previous experience in beadmaking on the torch. Add an element of planning to your work, and take your beads to the next level. Students will learn fused glass techniques by creating components for jewelry and small items such as bookmarks, wine stoppers, ornaments, and letter openers. Topics will include cutting, grinding, preparing pieces for the kiln and firing. Learn the ancient craft of glass beadmaking in the flame of an oxy-propane torch. Students will melt Italian glass rods to form and decorate numerous glass beads to take home.

Weekend of 7/7 - 7/8/2012 Weekend of 8/3 - 8/5/2012 8/11/2012 Weekend of 8/18 - 8/19/2012 Weekend of 9/29 - 9/30/2012 Weekend of 11/17 - 11/18/2012

Wheel Throwing Sampler for Beginners

PARTIAL CLASS LISTING Check our calendar weekly for updates at http://www.brookfieldcraft.org/cal/

Jewelry Studio Jewelry Open Studio

Torch-less Chain Making Silversmithing 101 Silversmithing 102 Cold Forging Non-Ferrous Metals Quick + Easy Metal Rings Loop in Loop Chain Making

Woodturning Studio Intro to the Lathe Turning Fridays From Tree to Table

Special Interest Dynamic PowerPoint for Artists Intro to SketchUp 3D Design

This introductory workshop in chain making using simple hand tools is perfect for beginners and hobbyists of all ages. In this introductory class, you will learn the fundamentals of working with silver as you create a sterling silver ring and more. In this continuation of Silversmithing 101, you expand your knowledge of the fundamentals, improve your soldering skills, learn to craft a handmade bezel for an unusually shaped cabochon stone and continue on to other projects of your choosing. The ancient art of cold forging involves stretching metal with controlled hammer blows against an anvil or stake. Applications for this technique include flatware, bracelets, and jewelry and object components. This short Sampler Workshop is a great introduction to a variety of metal jewelry techniques and no experience is necessary. Get started working with metals and produce some excellent rings while you’re at it. Byzantine style classical chain making requires the use of fine silver wire and a torch in order to fuse the individual links closed. The links are then shaped using pliers and woven together to create a variety of different chains. Days one and two, students will work with casting wax and wax working tools to craft their choice of metal buttons, belt buckles, and jewelry objects. Finished models will be sent away for professional casting. Students will return several weeks later to de-sprue, finish, polish, and complete their work. Join us for a 2-day introductory workshop in the art of woodturning, and prepare yourself to experience creative transformation in action. You’ll discover the secret to turning a tree stump into a wooden bowl...and that’s just the beginning! Attend any 3 of 4 weekly sessions for turners to work on independent projects. In a directed lab format, students will be able to draw upon instructor experience and receive advice and instruction appropriate to their skill and interests. This course teaches students how to make a bowl straight from the trunk of a tree. Slowly drying turning wood can take months to accomplish, but this course whisks students through the time-intensive process with pre-prepared wood.

Heather Lawless will show beginners how to create visually appealing and effective slideshows for artist talks and presentations. Enhance your studio practice with easy to use software to plan dimensional forms before hitting the workbench. This one-day workshop will teach beginner students how to get the most from SketchUp, a free 3D modeling program.

Ongoing: Tuesdays 10a – 1p Wednesdays 7p – 10p 2nd Friday ea. month 10a – 7p 6/30/2012 Two Opportunities: Weekend of 7/14 - 7/15/2012 Weekend of 10/20-10/21/2012 Weekend of 7/21 - 7/22/2012 7/28/2012 8/4/2012 8/12/2012 Weekend of 9/8 - 9/9/2012 + 10/7/2012

Weekend of 7/21 - 7/22/2012 Fridays, 8/3 – 8/24/2012 Weekend of 8/4 - 8/5/2012

7/21/2012 8/4/2012

Waxworking for Cast Jewelry Components & Objects

BCC fine metal students and local skilled jewelry artists can purchase time as low as $10/hr to use BCC's well equipped jewelry studio to work independently on projects.